How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-07 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Pyle Active Sport Waterproof — biggest strength: IPX8 marine-grade waterproofing combined with Bluetooth streaming, a built-in mic for calls, touch controls, and a rated operating range of 32°F to 176°F, so it works in almost any climate.
• Pyle Active Sport Waterproof — biggest trade-off: In-ear design with passive noise cancellation only, and up to 6 hours of battery life, which is on the shorter side for long sessions. It's also not designed to be submerged for swimming the way the Soveign is.
• Soveign Waterproof Headphones — biggest strength: True bone-conduction swimming capability with IPX8 protection, a 32GB MP3 player that holds more than 6000 songs, and a 360-degree bendable frame that's built to survive rough handling.
• Soveign Waterproof Headphones — biggest trade-off: Bluetooth is limited in water, so you must switch to MP3 mode when swimming, and the physical-button, one-hand operation is a different feel than touch controls.
• Who Pyle is for: Runners, cyclists, gym-goers, and anyone who wants one Bluetooth headset for music and hands-free calls in rain, sweat, or cold.
• Who Soveign is for: Swimmers, divers, and athletes who want music underwater without carrying a phone, plus listeners who prefer an open-ear bone-conduction fit.
The Pyle Upgraded Active Sport is built around one idea: keep the music going while you move, and don't let weather stop you. It's a Bluetooth headset first — it pairs with phones, tablets, and MP3 players, streams stereo audio, and lets you jump between listening and answering calls without fumbling. That makes it a natural fit for the person who takes calls mid-run or wants one device for both the treadmill and the commute.
The waterproofing claim here is serious. It's rated IPX8 marine grade, which is the top end of the immersion scale, and Pyle pairs that with a temperature range of 32°F to 176°F. In practice that means rain, snow, heavy sweat, and hot-weather training are all within spec. Battery life is rated up to 6 hours, and controls are touch-based with passive noise cancellation doing the isolation work.
Who should skip it? If your main sport is swimming laps, this isn't the tool — there's no onboard MP3 storage, and the Bluetooth link is what feeds it music. It's also an in-ear design, so if you specifically dislike tips sitting in your ear canal or you want an open-ear fit for big ears, the Soveign's bone-conduction approach will feel more comfortable.
The Soveign X7 is a bone-conduction headphone, and that single design choice changes everything about who it suits. Instead of pushing sound into your ear canal, it sits outside and transmits through the bone, which keeps your ears open to traffic, pool noise, and training partners. For big ears, that's often the difference between "I can wear this for an hour" and "I'm taking it off after ten minutes" — there's no tip to jam in, and the frame adjusts to your head shape.
The standout feature is the dual-mode system. In Bluetooth mode it behaves like a normal wireless headphone. Switch to MP3 mode and it plays from 32GB of internal storage — enough for more than 6000 songs — with no phone required. That's the mode the brand specifically tells you to use in the water, because Bluetooth signal degrades underwater. If you want music while swimming or diving, this is the whole point of the product.
Durability is addressed head-on too. The frame bends a full 360 degrees, so the middle joint isn't a weak point that snaps in a gym bag. Controls are physical buttons operated with one hand — volume, playback, and call answering — which is genuinely easier than touch when your fingers are wet or gloved. The trade-off is that bone conduction trades some bass punch for situational awareness, and it's a plastic enclosure, so it feels utilitarian rather than premium.
• Best for swimming and diving → Soveign Waterproof Headphones. IPX8 plus 32GB onboard MP3 means no phone needed underwater.
• Best for Bluetooth calls and streaming → Pyle Active Sport Waterproof. Built-in mic and instant device pairing for phone, tablet, or MP3 player.
• Best for extreme temperatures → Pyle Active Sport Waterproof. Rated from 32°F to 176°F, so cold morning runs and hot outdoor sessions are both covered.
• Best for people with big ears or who dislike in-ear tips → Soveign Waterproof Headphones. Bone conduction sits outside the ear canal, and the bendable frame adapts to your head.
• Best for touch controls → Pyle Active Sport Waterproof. Touch operation feels modern, though it can be fussy with wet hands.
• Best for one-handed, wet-finger control → Soveign Waterproof Headphones. Physical buttons for volume, playback, and calls.
• Best for storing music without a phone → Soveign Waterproof Headphones. More than 6000 songs on board.
• Best for a single do-everything workout headset → Pyle Active Sport Waterproof. If you never swim, its Bluetooth-first design is simpler to live with.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Soveign Waterproof Headphones. In my opinion the bone-conduction fit is the smarter choice for big ears and for anyone who finds in-ear tips uncomfortable over long sessions, and the 32GB MP3 mode makes it the only one of the two that actually delivers on the promise of music while swimming. The Pyle is the better pick if your life is Bluetooth-first and you want touch controls and a wider temperature range — but it can't replace a phone the way the Soveign can. For swimmers and open-ear fans, Soveign wins; for everything else, Pyle is the cleaner everyday headset.
are headphones waterproof
Not all of them, and "waterproof" isn't a single standard. Both products here carry an IPX8 rating, which is the highest immersion level in the IPX scale — the Pyle is described as IPX8 marine grade, and the Soveign is IPX8 with a full waterproof silicone coating. Always check the specific IPX number rather than trusting the word on the box.
are headphones water resistant
Water resistant is a softer claim than waterproof. The Pyle is described as water resistant wireless stereo and also rated IPX8, while the Soveign lists water resistant as an additional feature alongside its IPX8 rating. In practice, water resistant covers sweat and rain; a true IPX8 rating is what you want for swimming.
Can I use Bluetooth while swimming with these?
I'd point to the Soveign. Bone conduction sits outside the ear canal and the frame bends up to 360 degrees to fit your head shape, which avoids the pressure and fit problems in-ear tips create for larger ears. The Pyle is an in-ear design with a rounded tip, so it depends more on whether that tip shape suits you.
• LOBKIN Bone Conduction Swimming vs Piegricdiat Invisible Sleep Headpho
• Audio-Technica HP-EP-WH Replacement Ear vs TANGZU Wan'er S.G HiFi
• Comecase Headphone Case vs QOEKUEY Kids Headset
• XIAOWTEK Earbuds vs Jesebang Earbuds: Bluetooth Headphones
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.